Former RPI employee arraigned on grand larceny charges

Christine Dickson appears in Rensselaer County Court with her attorney, Joseph Ahearn, Wednesday, for her arraignment on grand larceny charges for her alleged use of a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute credit card to pay for $300,000 worth of personal expenses. (Mike McMahon / The Record)

TROY -- A former RPI employee indicted for allegedly stealing $300,000 from the school was arraigned on grand larceny charges Wednesday.

Christine Dickson, a former employee at RPI's School of Architecture, is accused of using a school credit card for personal expenses.

Dickson appeared in Rensselaer County Court Wednesday morning with her attorney and entered a not guilty plea to one count of second-degree grand larceny after her indictment on June 8.

Prosecutors say between 2003 and 2009, Dickson, 59, used the university's credit card for personal expenses totaling $300,000, including cash advances, trips to casinos, car rentals, online purchases, and to pay her cable and phone bills.

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Her indictment came nearly three years after her arrest back in May 2010.

Rensselaer County District Attorney Richard McNally said his office was waiting to learn how much of RPI's loss was going to be covered by insurance, "so we could determine a restitution figure," he said. "We also were working to resolve the case short of going to a grand jury and a trial."

Dickson's attorney, Joseph Ahearn, said his client rejected two plea offers of two-to-six years, one in January 2011 and another in July 2012.

Dickson next scheduled appearance is set for July 27. She remains free on $20,000 bail.